This passage was written by me in early
May 2003 before LeCroy's role on the team was really established.
As I attended the Twins Opening Day game in 2000, there was very
little about which to get excited. The Twins started numerous
rookies, and found themselves down 1-0 after the first pitch of the
season. However, the one aspect of the game that my brother
Greg and I
particularly enjoyed was the debut of Matt LeCroy. He doubled in the
game for his first career hit, and really struggled to make it to
second base. He really was the slowest person I have ever seen
attempt to run. Anyway, because of his jolly picture and his slow,
chubbiness, my brother and I nicknamed him Flounder. The nickname
has stuck throughout the years, even though his position on the team
has not.
While Greg and I really enjoyed his debut, his performance that
season was absolutely terrible as he proved to be unready for the
Majors. He spent the second half of 2000 and nearly all of 2001 in
the minors before a September call-up in 2001. He absolutely crushed
the ball that month to the tune of a 1204 OPS (on base + slugging
percentage).
Last season Flounder struggled to find playing time in the
crowded designated hitter/1st base picture as he competing with Doug
Mientkiewicz, David Ortiz, Michael Cuddyer, and to a lesser extent
Bobby Kielty for playing time. The release of David Ortiz this
off-season gave LeCroy the opportunity he needed. He is hitting as
well as should be expected, but he has not taken the big jump
forward I hoped for as he entered his prime and received a full-time
position. As a result, Bobby Kielty's continued emergence has slowly
drained away his playing time.
I am hopeful that LeCroy will take a big step forward soon and
really start hitting for the power that he has shown in Triple A. If
that is the case, then it will make Ron Gardenhire have an even
tougher job at finding playing time for all of his players. I, for
one, would not mind in the least if LeCroy begins taking
Mientkiewicz's spot at first base. Into the future, I hope LeCroy
can perhaps catch a few more games and perhaps replace Tom Prince as
the backup catcher next season. Then, he can have a nice little role
as the backup catcher/DH/1B for the next several years an continue
to absolutely mash lefties.
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